Local military news

Naval Special Warfare memorial

CORONADO, Calif. (May 19, 2020) Rear Adm. Collin Green, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) and his wife Alyssa lay a wreath in observance of Memorial Day on the Gold Medallion Tree Memorial at NSWC Headquarters onboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for the 11 SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers who lost their lives during Operation Red Wings. Naval Special Warfare Command is committed to its Sailors and the deliberate development of their tactical excellence, ethics, and leadership as the nation's premiere maritime special operations force supporting the National Defense Strategy. It is the maritime component of U.S. Special Operations Command, and its mission is to provide maritime special operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations, unilaterally or with partners, to support national objectives. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Class Sean Furey.


CORONADO, Calif. (May 19, 2020) Naval Special Warfare Force Master Chief (SEAL) Bill King, left, and his wife Robin lay a wreath on the Extortion 17 Memorial in observance of Memorial Day at the Naval Special Warfare Command Headquarters onboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. The Extortion 17 helicopter crash claimed the lives of 38 people, including 22 NSW personnel in Afghanistan Aug. 6, 2011. Naval Special Warfare Command is committed to its Sailors and the deliberate development of their tactical excellence, ethics, and leadership as the nation's premiere maritime special operations force supporting the National Defense Strategy. It is the maritime component of U.S. Special Operations Command, and its mission is to provide maritime special operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations, unilaterally or with partners, to support national objectives. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Sean Furey.

USS Nimitz signal

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 19, 2020) Sailors signal the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) as it goes alongside the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is underway conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is an intensive exercise designed to fully integrate units of the CSG, while testing a strike group's ability as a whole to carry out sustained combat operations from the sea. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Sarah Christoph.



National military news
Happy grads

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (May 20, 2020) The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, fly over Bancroft Hall as midshipmen toss their covers concluding the fifth swearing-in event for the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2020. The Class of 2020 graduated approximately 1,000 midshipmen during five swearing-in events and one virtual ceremony. The hat toss, now a traditional ending to the event, originated at the Naval Academy in 1912 as a symbolic and visual end to the four-year program. As the undergraduate college of our country's naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers of competence, character, and compassion in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Dana D. Legg.

America strong


UNITED STATES (April 28, 2020) The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, honor frontline COVID-19 first responders and essential workers with formation flights over New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia, April 28, 2020. While they may not be flying together again, they are separately doing fly-overs around the country. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Hicks. #AmericaStrong

American Legion accepting Spirit of Service award packages
5/5/2020
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- For the 20th consecutive year, the American Legion will award the Spirit of Service to an enlisted member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Although the American Legion National Convention is cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legion will still honor a winner from each branch. Legion leadership wants to ensure these outstanding service members are still recognized for their service.
Packages for nominations are now being accepted and must be submitted by June 1.
The Legion will select one winner from each service based primarily on the level of volunteerism the service member performs off-duty in a local community.
Eligible Sailors must be E-5 or below, epitomize Navy core values and be nominated by the service member's commanding officer (CO).
The main criterion of the award is the level of volunteer community service that a Sailor performs off-duty in the local community. Command-sponsored volunteer activities, either on duty or off, will not be counted. The period of service is Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2019, and nominees must be E-5 or below during the period of service. Nominees may be active or Reserve, and must be outstanding military professionals. Previous winners of this award are not eligible.
Nominations must be on command letterhead and indicate the CO’s confidence in the Sailor’s professionalism and as a representative of the Navy, the validity of the volunteer efforts, and a commitment to facilitate their nominee’s attendance at the national convention if selected. Endorsements are not required.
The description of volunteer efforts must include quantitative data such as hours, days, or months spent on off-duty volunteer community service. Command-sponsored volunteer activities, either on-duty or off-duty, will not be counted. This description should be provided in a bullet format.
A high-resolution JPEG head and full-body photograph of the Sailor is required. If chosen as the award recipient, the nominee's photo will be used in printed and online material. The photo should be similar to those commonly associated with Navy leader biographies and official portrait photos.
If chosen as the award recipient, the biography will be used in the Legion's magazine. The biography should include hometown information, as well as professional highlights and qualifications.
A written and signed statement of consent by the Sailor, authorizing release of information contained in the nomination, is required per the Privacy Act of 1974. The following statement is a sample of written consent: "I, (rate/rank/full name), do hereby authorize the release of all information enclosed in this nomination package to those persons involved in the selection process."
Nomination packages should be emailed to Kristine.garland@navy.mil by June 1. The Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) will consolidate all nominations, organize a virtual ranking board, and recommend the top candidates to the American Legion, which will make the selection. NAVCO will inform the winner and also notify those not selected.
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veteran’s organization. Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States.
For further information, please contact Kristine Garland at kristine.garland@navy.mil. The NAVADMIN will be released soon.

TAP available online for transitioning Sailors
3/24/2020
by MC1 Mark D. Faram, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has suspended all in-person Transition Assistance Program classes due to social distancing rules now in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
But the Navy is not eliminating the training requirement and instead is authorizing all separating and retiring sailors to complete this requirement online, allowing them to separate on time.
Here’s what you need to know:
“Commanders must continue to ensure transitioning Service Members are prepared to reintegrate into the civilian community, especially in the challenging times we face. Vice Adm. John B. Nowell, the Navy’ top uniformed personnel official said in NAVADMIN 082/20.
Active-Duty Sailors retiring or separating are exempt from the stop movement, which means that separations and retirements will go on as scheduled, unless Sailors request and are approved to reenlist or extend
The course completion requirement is also still in place for Reserve Sailors on active-duty orders for more than 179 days as well as mobilized reservists within 60 days of redeployment and demobilization.
For those with enough time left on the books, the message recommends they simply reschedule for a later date.
Those inside their 365-days prior to separation start time or 90-days prior to separation Capstone requirement must complete their training through the Joint Knowledge Online Website. Details on the TAP virtual curriculum to include links to the training available on the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program Website.
What’s not changed is the requirement for initial Self-Assessment Counseling, Pre-Separation counseling and Capstone sessions. These can still be done in-person using proper social-distancing protocol or telephonically by command career counselors or TAP managers.
TAP related questions can be directed to Mr. Tom Albert, OPNAV N170C, at (901)-874-4254, DSN 882 or via e-mail at tom.albert@navy.mil. .





United Through Reading®
Deploying? Service members invited to record stories for family at San Diego USO
United Through Reading® is a program helping ease the stress of separation for military families by having deploying or deployed service members read children’s books aloud via DVD for their family to watch at home. This powerful program is available to all military units. It provides service members a chance to make lasting connections from afar. The DVD recording and the book are mailed to the child and family back home.
Service members who are leaving for training can also take part in this program. Being a parent is not required; service members can send the DVD & book(s) to any special child in their life such as younger sister or brother, niece, nephew or godchild.
On the day of the recording, service members are encouraged to dress in the attire they will be wearing while deployed/training, but this is not required. The room is private, so any special message, or those fun reading voices, will only be heard by the recipient of the DVD recording. USO San Diego has books available, or service members can bring their own. Our volunteers will help set up the camera and then leave the room. The DVD can hold a 30 minute recording.
Please e-mail USO San Diego Staff Member Nichole Duarte at utr@usosandiego.org to make your appointment. This program is offered at both USO San Diego centers.